Hi Pinsiders,

After several requests for a poster of my 2014 Pinball at the Zoo T-shirt design (https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-at-the-zoo-t-shirt-art-and-pre-order), Kevin (PatZ El Presidente) and I have decided to give you a couple choices. Here's what we're prepared to offer.

Option A) As a picky artist, I want this poster to big, archival, high-quality, and gorgeous. I had this quoted as a limited-edition screen-print (just like they used to do all the pinball playfields). It's on high-quality paper, suitable for framing, and will be approximately 18"x20" when complete. I am prepared to personally sign and number this limited-edition run, NEVER TO BE PRINTED AGAIN (unless we decide to print a red version...kidding, kidding...man, that was bad. LOVE YOU JACK! ). Here's what it will look like:

2014PatZ18x20.jpg

...and just so you get a feel for size, I did a quick mock-up:

2014PatZ18x20mock.jpg

This option would cost $25 and we would need a commitment from 25 people before it would make sense for us to print these.

Option B) Kevin prints digital copies of the PatZ poster each year. These are smaller (11x17"), would have the event info included, and are essentially color laser copies. On the up-side, these would only be $5 each. Here's what option B will look like:

2014PatZ11x17.jpg

...and a mock-up so that you can see the size difference:

2014PatZ11x17mock.jpg

-----

We will be printing 11x17" version regardless of how many people commit to buying them. However, in order to produce option A, we will need a minimum order to produce them. I'd like to get a REALISTIC count of how many people would be willing to purchase option A. Please respond here if you are ready and willing to press the go button on the ole' paypal machine. Assuming there is enough interest, we will move forward with collecting money and printing the limited-edition artist print. If you are attending PatZ, we can work out a flat $25 pre-order fee for the poster. If you are not attending, there will be some shipping costs associated with getting the poster to you.

Pardon the convoluted process for creating this poster, but I didn't want to accept Paypal orders for this, not have enough, and then have to refund everyone's money. From my sales pitch here, I'm sure you can tell which version I'm hoping we can produce. I look forward to seeing how this thread is received over the next few days.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,
Ryan Claytor
Elephant Eater Comics
www.ElephantEater.com

Option A Commitments
------------------------------
1. catboxer
2. Arie (non-pinsider)
3. tamoore (if needed...we'll let you off the hook at 26 pre-orders)
4. pmWolf
5. yancy
6. SideTrackTap
7. whysnow
8. Anetra (non-pinsider)
9. Noahs_Arcade
10. Christina (non-pinsider)
11. Garrett
12. StraX22
13. Jdoz2
14. Pinballnut - Brad Grant, Vacaville, CA
15. Tsskinne
16. Turboderf
17. Rock914
18. Lockdoc
19. Insane
20. Loren3233
21. Fudd (KLOV)
22. Gambit3113
23. rlslick
24. harbngr
25. gum

Edit (02.17.14 afternoon): Now that we have enough commitments, I've opened a spot for pre-orders on my website with options for PatZ pick-up, US Shipping, and Outside of US Shipping:

http://www.elephanteater.com/comics#prints

Even if you're not on the aforementioned list, you are still welcome to purchase the posters. We are making limited print-run of 50.

Edit 2 (02.17.14 afternoon): For the folks interested in purchasing option B, please contact Kevin Ketchum (PatZ Grand Champion) at [email protected] to discuss details. He's spearheading option B, while I'm doin' the leg-work for option A.

Edit 3 (02.23.14 evening): We are still missing about 20% of the pre-orders. In a holding pattern until a few more folks send in payment. Thanks those who have already sent payment.

Edit 4 (03.01.14 evening): Still almost as many MIA commitments as last week. Just sent out some friendly reminders to those who need it. I'll check in again before too long. Thanks for all the pre-payments so far.

Edit 5 (03.11.14 afternoon): After the personal reminders were sent out last week, all the required pre-orders have now been submitted. Thank you so much. Now I just need to do a little work on the file (because we're printing on white paper instead of a green shirt, some of the screens need a bit of adjusting) and then send it to the printer (same folks who did the quality work on the shirts). Anyhow, thanks for your patience through all of this. I plan to continue updating this page weekly until all the pre-order folks have their poster in hand. I really appreciate all your support!

Edit 6 (03.11.14 night): I managed to find some time this evening to massage that file into a poster-ready format. I just sent it to the printer, so printing should begin SOON!

Edit 7 (03.22.14 evening): Hey guys. Yesterday I received word from the printers that your posters are DONE!!! Woo-HOO!!! I'm driving to pick them up on Wednesday, at which point I'll start packaging and shipping them. As usual, if you have any questions, I'm all ears. Thanks, again, for your support with all this.

Edit 8 (03.27.14 morning): Hello again! So, I just wanted to give you all a quick update to let you know the poster shipping will be underway soon. I picked up the posters yesterday and they look GREAT!!! I feel like this is what the print is supposed to look like. I'm very pleased. They are printed on a nice heavy paper stock, I bought some large, 4-inch diameter tubes from Uline for shipping, and today I'm gonna run out to get some kraft paper (Thanks, whysnow!), and a colored pen to sign and number all these puppies! I'll be sure to update here again when I've got 'em all packed and ready to go. In the meantime, here are a couple pics to prove this process is indeed moving along. Take care, guys.

This is a process photo of the UNCUT posters on the drying rack at the printers:
dryingRackPatZ.jpg

Here are the beauties in my basement (hence the dark picture) all stacked-up adjacent to the mailing tubes:
stackAndToobzPatZ.jpg

Edit 9 (03.30.14 morning...should have been 03.28.14 evening): Hey guys! A couple days ago (Friday afternoon), I finished packaging all your poster pre-orders and got 'em shipped! Big thanks to whysnow for the kraft paper suggestion. I can tell that it will make a world of difference in keeping your posters immaculate during shipping. Anyhow, really hope you enjoy these and I can't thank you enough for your pre-orders. You guys made this happen!!! THANK YOU!!!

In closing, here are a couple of details. Each poster is personally signed...

signed.jpg

...and numbered.

numbered.jpg

I even went out and bought a green pen to match the posters.

Take care, guys!

Edit 10 (04.08.14 morning): Since this design has been getting some notice, Pinball at the Zoo (PatZ) Director, Kevin Ketchum, and I thought it’d be fun to do a signing at the show. So you can find me behind the PatZ admissions table at the end of the month. Here are the specifics:

Ryan Claytor (2014 Pinball at the Zoo Artist) Signing
Friday of Pinball at the Zoo
2-3pm on April 25th, 2014
Kalamazoo County Expo Center
2900 Lake Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49048

I’ll be happy to sign any of the PatZ schwag with my design on it, or any of my non-pinball artwork and books as well. I'd love to meet some of you guys in person, so if you're around on Friday please stop by and say hello!

Edit 11 (04.24.14 afternoon): I'm putting the original event artwork for PatZ 2014 up for auction this Saturday. Just finished double-matting and framing it and, I gotta say, it looks pretty amazing. Here's a thread with a little more info, followed by some pictures:
http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/2014-pinball-at-the-zoo-original-event-artwork-up-for-auction-this-saturday

DSC08492.jpg

2014PatZFramedOriginalArt.jpg

DSC08494.jpg

DSC08495.jpg

DSC08503.jpg

Started a running tab at the bottom of this thread's initial post of commitments to option A. (We need 25 in order to print.)

Commitment roster edited and includes a non-pinsiider, so we're up to 7 of 25.

Thanks, Turboderf. I appreciate the sentiments, but wasn't sure if that was a commitment, so I left you off the list until I know for sure. Didn't want to force you into anything.

Sincerely,
Ryan Claytor
Elephant Eater Comics
http://www.ElephantEater.com

Update: Another non-pinsider commitment. We're up to 8!

I do not. Tried to register at KLOV a while back. They wanted a recommendation from a current member to sign up. Got a recommendation from an established user. Never heard back. Assuming you have access, I'd be happy to have you post a link here or my website (with the same info listed above):

http://www.elephanteater.com/9837

1) Still laughing!

2) Is that a commitment?

Bossanova!

Totally worth it!

Update: With Noahs_Arcade plus another non-pinsider commitment (tryin' to get some comic-reader cross-over from my site) we're now up to 10!

AAAaaaaayyy,
Ryan Claytor
Elephant Eater Comics
http://www.ElephantEater.com

Would soil myself if given the chance. Then I'd get to work!

Someone talk Pat Lawlor into giving some new blood a chance. ...although, I'm not sure what I'd want more on his upcoming JJP release: my art or John Youssi's art. Ha-ha!

Pie in the sky dilemmas.

Edit: Since we're being delusional for a moment, here's my dream machine (based on my favorite comic, Groo the Wanderer):

ClaytorGrooPinballColor2.jpg

...more here if you're interested: http://www.elephanteater.com/8591

ELEVEN! Gracias, Garrett!

You are the man, catboxer! Many thanks.

Kevin (PatZ Overlord) is handling the printing of Option B. Let me see what he wants to do about those. Thanks for your interest, mustanglover!

12. StraX22
13. Jdoz2

Past the half-way mark! Woo-hoo!

And another 5! Thanks, guys!!

We're just about 75% there. 7 more commitments and we go to press. ...8 if we want to let Tamoore off the hook.

Good to know. Now here's the mystery I want solved; why in the world are you up at 5:30am on a Saturday? I'm takin' care of PatZ preorders and feeding my 8-month-old son. What's your excuse?

Ha-ha! Fun! We're looking forward to meeting him in May!

Hi Insane! Got your email, just responded, and added you to the list. Many thanks.

Not a bad idea, but wasn't planning on it, only because the green of the robots is in a bunch of other elements in the composition, and believe it or not, there are a number of colors besides green that make up the robots. My fear was that if everything was metallic it would kind of be overkill.

Sweet! We're up to 20! Thanks, Loren.

Got another one. Kevin (PatZ Daddy Mac) tells me that Fudd over on KLOV is in for one. I'm awaiting contact info, but for now I'm assuming it's a legitimate commitment. Name added above and 4 people remain to make this print-run a reality.

Cool. Thanks for the support, Thunder424.

Fabulous! That takes the A-count up to 23. Only 2 more commitments needed!

...and with that, we have enough commitments to PRINT!!! ...aaaAAAaand,

enough to let tamoore off the hook. ...even though,

A final word of thanks, to:

the original post has been updated to include you in the current roster.

Just made an edit to the original post that directs you to a purchase location:

Thanks for your interest in the Option B poster, Captive_Ball. It looks like you're not the only one! Kevin (PatZ Prime Minister) is spearheading the printing of Option B, so you can email him directly. In fact, this calls for another original post edit:

Thank YOU, guys! Lookin' forward to gettin' the rest of the pre-orders in so I can pay our printer. They've done stellar work on the shirts (as I believe you've seen: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-at-the-zoo-t-shirt-art-and-pre-order ) so I'm anxious to keep 'em busy! Ha-ha!

Uhm...I'm not sure the store of which you speak , but I'm sure we can work something out, Garrett. We're close enough where we'll see one another at SOME upcoming event, I'd imagine. (Perhaps some clarification is needed, "Elephant Eater Comics" is the name under which I self-publish my comics, not a brick and mortar store front for comics retailing.)

Thanks for keepin' an eye out, Aurich! Much appreciated.

Oh. There will be pics.

Got it, Loren. Many thanks!

Super! You guys are ON IT! Many thanks.

I planned on giving print numbers in the order of pre-order commitments. However, I personally know the #7 guy (Arie) and he doesn't care about numbering, so I switched the two of you.

If anyone else would like to switch numbers, contact that pinsider and coordinate with them to email me confirmation. I'll need a confirmation PM from both of you before I switch.

Rock, you are the coolest. C'mon, who is going to take him up on this offer? ...oh yah, and I surely approve.

Rawr.

Just in case clarification is needed, this thread we're in is for posters:

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/2014-pinball-at-the-zoo-poster

...and there is a separate thread for shirts:

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-at-the-zoo-t-shirt-art-and-pre-order

?

Not a problem! Let me know if you need anything else.

Just finished responding to all msgs and sent payment confirmations to everyone. Still missing about 10 pre-order payments. If you haven't received a confirmation email from me, please make payment ( http://www.elephanteater.com/comics#prints ) or contact me so we can figure-out the misdirected payment.

Thanks for all your support, guys!

Sincerely,
Ryan Claytor
Elephant Eater Comics
www.ElephantEater.com

Quick update to the original post:

This weekend's update...from the initial post:

Hi guys,

Another weekly update/edit to the original post:

If anyone has any questions, I'm here.

Take care,
Ryan

...and another update:

Yay!

Hi Chris,

If you're talking about the limited-edition, screen-printed, 18x20", artist-print, poster, you can order it from my website:

http://www.elephanteater.com/comics#prints

If you are talking about the 11x17" or 18x24", print-on-demand, event flyers, then you can contact Kevin (Pinball at the Zoo Grand Marshall) at his email address:

[email protected]

Pardon the confusion, but we are trying to divvy-up the work-load on these posters. Thanks for asking, Chris.

Any other questions, please let me know.

Best,
Ryan Claytor
Elephant Eater Comics
www.ElephantEater.com

Another update for ya.

Was planning on some tube mailers, but I'm open to suggestions.

All great suggestions, Hilton. Had everything taken care of except the craft paper. I'll look into that, thanks.

Got it, Loren. Will definitely consolidate.

Another update to the original post. It goes like this:

Updated again:

Chris, you SCOOPED ME on the shipping announcement! Ha-ha! I just couldn't find the time to hop on Pinside until this morning. Nevertheless, thanks so much for the kind words. I really appreciate the sentiments...and the PHOTO! SO COOL! Looks great atop your Transformers, there!

Take care,
Ryan

An April Update:

Hi Guys,

Just a quick update here. We're CONSIDERING reprinting the 2014 Pinball at the Zoo T-shirts, due to the overwhelming demand. Details can be found in this new thread:

http://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/2014-pinball-at-the-zoo-shirt-re-pre-order#post-1646440

Thanks, again, for all your support!

Ryan Claytor - 2014 Pinball at the Zoo Event Artist
Elephant Eater Comics
www.ElephantEater.com